A Foreign Service officer (FSO) is a key member of the United States Department of State. FSOs work as analysts and liaisons in consular offices in the United States and abroad. The Foreign Service exam is the first step toward becoming a Foreign Service officer. To determine if a candidate qualifies for an oral assessment, his examination score is combined with his personal narrative. After passing the exam and interview, the candidate will be subjected to medical and security screenings, as well as a final review panel.
All U.S. citizens are eligible to take the exam to become a Foreign Service officer, which is given in testing centers around the world. This online test assesses a candidate’s understanding of political science, history, economics, psychology, and current events. There are multiple choice questions and an essay on the test. Expect the exam to last approximately three hours. The test is offered three times a year over an eight-day period the State Department, and candidates can retake it after 11 months.
Candidates with a higher level of education, professional experience, and foreign language fluency are preferred the State Department. The competition for positions in the Foreign Service is fierce, and many successful candidates will have graduate degrees, excellent language skills, and a high exam score. Veterans of the United States military are given priority. After passing the primary exam, candidates claiming fluency in a critical or supercritical language will be tested phone.
Many people who want to work for the Foreign Service look for undergraduate and graduate degrees that will help them advance in their careers. Political science, history, sociology, and international affairs are among the degrees available. In general, the core requirements for these degrees will aid a candidate in achieving a higher exam score.
The oral examination will take place in Washington, D.C., as well as other major cities across the United States, such as Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia. The oral evaluation is a one-day process that includes group and writing exercises as well as an interview. The candidate should be prepared to answer questions about his background and motivation for pursuing a career in the Foreign Service. Interviewers at the State Department look for people who have the skills and qualities required for a demanding diplomatic career.
Candidates who pass the interview process will be subjected to a background check and a health screening before receiving top-secret security clearance. Any candidate can be disqualified at this point in the process if they have a serious medical condition or a suspicious background. Following the receipt of these clearances, a candidate will be referred to the final review board and placed on the hiring list. Candidates will go through several months of orientation and training before receiving their first job posting as positions become available.